hi, I’m new to COPD, I have never smoked in my life yet 2 years ago after moving from the midlands in England to Wales I became very ill with cough and breathing problems. ( if covid had been around then I would have been convinced I had it )
My husband convinced me something was not right, I thought it was the stress of moving and him being diagnosed with cancer that had ‘got’ to me, so reluctantly plodded off to the doc.
After many tests and X-ray they decided I had stress asthma. The inhalers didn’t make any difference so off I went back to the doc.
More tests and it was decided I had COPD and asthma.
I had previously told them my family history. My father has had COPD for at least 30 years and my mother has had asthma from birth. Both are well in to their 90’s .
My father did smoke as a young man but gave up as soon as he realised it was having an effect on his running after a football.
my mother has glaucoma which I see can be a side effect of asthma inhalers .
My concern for myself is this, is my diagnosis a medical fact or have they decided that because of my family history it must be so.
Symbicort inhaler has helped slightly but I get very breathless , I sound like a train after a 4 mile walk. I do this once a week and I go to yoga once a week which helps keep me calm.
General housework and gardening feel like an up hill struggle so I try and do short bursts. I never really liked it so sounds like a good excuse to me !
My doc has now put me on Incruse Ellipta.
After reading the side effects I am very reluctant to use it.
Sore painful eyes , urine infection, sore mouth, teeth problems, pain in legs to name a few are all things I get already so it worries me that these symptoms will get worse.
I am told I take it with the symbicort .
From my stand point I have gone from a healthy hard working 65 year old woman who was active every day to a slow moving, coughing wreck in a period of 2 years.
Has anyone else had concerns about their diagnosis ? Or can anyone put my mind to rest over the medication issues.
I would be very grateful for any input positive or negative.
thank yo